1662

1604

S. L.

his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same; so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this Book. And if the Bishop of the Diocese be 'in doubt, then he may send for the resolution thereof to the Archbishop.

Though it be appointed, That all things shall be read and sung in the Church in the English Tongue, to the end that the Congregation may be thereby edified; yet it is not meant, but that when men say Morning and Evening Prayer privately, they may say the same in any language that they themselves do understand.

And all Priests and Deacons are to say daily the Morning and Evening Prayer either privately or openly, not being let by sickness, or some other urgent cause.

4 And all Priests and Deacons shall be bound to say daily the Morning and Evening Prayer, either privately or openly, except they be let by preaching, studying of divinity, or by some other urgent cause. [1604]

5 And the Curate that Ministereth in every Parish Church or Chapel, being at home, and not being otherwise reasonably hindered, shall say the same in the Parish Church or Chapel where he ministereth, and shall 'cause a bell to be tolled thereunto a convenient time before he begin, that the people may come to hear God's Word, and to pray with him.

in any doubt [1604]

3 but when [1604]

2 appointed in the afore written Preface [1604]

In Scot. Lit. immediately after the Preface, a similar injunction appears; "All Presbyters and Deacons shall be bound to say daily the Morning and Evening prayer, either privately or openly, except they be let or hindered by some urgent

1559

1552

1549

who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same: so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this book. And if the Bishop of the Diocese be in any doubt, then may he send for the resolution thereof unto the Archbishop.

Though it be appointed in the aforewritten Preface, that all things shall be read and sung in the Church, in the English tongue, to the end that the congregation may be thereby edified; yet it is not meant, but when men say 9Morning and Evening Prayer privately, they may say the same in any language that they themselves do understand.

And all Priests and Deacons shall be Neither that any man shall be bound bound to say daily the Morning and to the saying of them, but such as from Evening Prayer, either privately or time to time, in Cathedral and Colleopenly, except they be letted by preach-giate Churches, Parish Churches, and ing, studying of divinity, or by some Chapels to the same annexed, shall other urgent cause. serve the congregation.

And the Curate that ministereth in every parish Church or Chapel, being at home, and not being otherwise reasonably letted, shall say the same in the parish Church or Chapel where he ministereth, and shall toll a bell thereto, a convenient time before he begin, that such as be disposed, may come to hear God's word, and to pray with him.

cause. Of which cause, if it be frequently pretended, they are to make the Bishop

of the Diocese, or the Archbishop of the Province, the Judge and Allower."

5 The same injunction as in 1604, occurs in Scot. Lit. 1637.

6 letted [1604]

7 toll a Bell thereto [1604] 8 that such as be disposed may come, &c. [1604] 9 Matins and Evensong [1549]

OF CEREMONIES, WHY SOME BE ABOLISHED, AND SOME

RETAINED.1

F such Ceremonies as be used in the Church, and have had their beginning by the institution of man, some at the first were of godly intent and purpose devised, and yet at length turned to vanity and superstition; some entered into the Church by undiscreet devotion, and such a zeal as was without knowledge; and for because they were winked at in the beginning, they grew daily to more and more abuses, which not only for their unprofitableness, but also because they have much blinded the people, and obscured the glory of God, are worthy to be cut away, and clean rejected. Other there be, which although they have been devised by man, yet it is thought good to reserve them still, as well for a decent order in the Church, (for the which they were first devised) as because they pertain to edification, whereunto all things done in the Church (as the Apostle teacheth) ought to be referred.

And although the keeping or omitting of a Ceremony, in itself considered, is but a small thing; yet the wilful and contemptuous transgression and breaking of a common order and discipline is no small offence before God. Let all things be done among you, saith St. Paul, in a seemly and due order: The appointment of the which order pertaineth not to private men; therefore no man ought to take in hand, nor presume to appoint or alter any public or common order in Christ's Church, except he be lawfully called and authorized thereunto.

And whereas in this our time, the minds of men are so diverse, that some think it a great matter of conscience to depart from a piece of the least of their Ceremonies, they be so addicted to their old customs; and again on the other side, some be so 'new-fangled, that they would innovate all things, and so despise the old, that nothing can like them but that is new: it was thought expedient, not so much to have respect how to please and satisfy either of these parties, as how to please God, and profit them both. And yet lest any man should be offended, whom good reason might satisfy, here be certain causes rendered, why some of the accustomed Ceremonies be put away, and some retained and kept still.

Some are put away, because the great excess and multitude of them hath so increased in these latter days, that the burden of them was intolerable; whereof Saint Augustine in his time complained, that they were grown to such a number, that the estate of Christian people was in worse case concerning that matter, than were the Jews. And he counselled that such yoke and burden should be taken away, as time would serve quietly to do it. But what would Saint Augustine have said, if he had seen the Ceremonies of late days used among us: whereunto the multitude used in his time was not to be compared? This our excessive multitude of Ceremonies was so great, and many of them so dark, that they did more confound and darken, than declare and set forth Christ's benefits unto us. And besides this, Christ's Gospel is not a Ceremonial Law, (as much of Moses' Law was) but it is a Religion to serve God, not in bondage of the figure or shadow, but in the freedom of the spirit; being content only with those Ceremonies which do serve to a decent Order and godly Discipline, and such as be apt to stir up the dull mind of man to the remembrance of his duty to God, by some notable and special signification, whereby he might be edified. Furthermore, the most weighty cause of the abolishment of certain Ceremonies was, That they were so far abused, partly by the superstitious blindness of the rude

In 1549 this is placed after the Service for the First day of Lent or Commination Service, and will afterwards be noticed in that position. It is brought to this place merely for the sake of comparison.

2

or [1559]

3 be [1549]

5 all thing, and so do despise [1559, 1552, 1549]

6 some be retained [1549]

8 of spirit [1559, 1552, 1549]

4

new fangle [1549]

7 state [1604, 1559, 1552, 1549]

and unlearned, and partly by the unsatiable avarice of such as sought more their own lucre, than the glory of God, that the abuses could not well be taken away, the thing remaining still.

And if

But now as concerning those persons which peradventure will be offended, for that some of the old Ceremonies are retained still: If they consider that without some Ceremonies it is not possible to keep any Order, or quiet Discipline in the Church, they shall easily perceive just cause to reform their judgments. they think much, that any of the old do remain, and would rather have all devised anew then such men granting some Ceremonies convenient to be had, surely where the old may be well used, there they cannot reasonably reprove the old, only for their age, without bewraying of their own folly. For in such a case they ought rather to have reverence unto them for their antiquity, if they will declare themselves to be more studious of unity and concord, than of innovations and new-fangleness, which (as much as may be with 'true setting forth of Christ's Religion) is always to be eschewed. Furthermore, such shall have no just cause with the Ceremonies reserved to be offended. For as those be taken away which were most abused, and did burden men's consciences without any cause; so the other that remain, are retained for a discipline and order, which (upon just causes) may be altered and changed, and therefore are not to be esteemed equal with God's Law. And moreover, they be neither dark nor dumb Ceremonies, but are so set forth, that every man may understand what they do mean, and to what use they do serve. So that it is not like that they in time to come should be abused as 2other have been. And in these our doings we condemn no other Nations, nor prescribe any thing but to our own people only: For we think it convenient, that every Country should use such Ceremonies as they shall think best to the setting forth of God's honour and glory, and to the reducing of the people to a most perfect and godly living, without error or superstition; and that they should put away other things, which from time to time they perceive to be most abused, as in men's ordinances it often chanceth diversly

in divers Countries.

the true setting forth [1604] [S. L.] [1559, 1552, 1549] 2 the other [1559, 1552, 1549] 3 all our doings [1549]

1662

S. L.

1604 The Table and Calendar expressing the Order of the Psalms and Lessons to be said at Morning and Evening Prayer throughout the year, except certain Proper Feasts, as the Rules following more plainly declare.

The Order how the Psalter is appointed The Order how the Psalter is appointed

to be read.

HE Psalter shall be read through THE once every Month, as it is there appointed, both for Morning and Evening Prayer. But in February it shall be read only to the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth day of the Month.

And, whereas January, March, May, July, August, October, and December have one-and-thirty days a piece; It is ordered, that the same Psalms shall be read the last day of the said months, which were read the day before: So that the Psalter may begin again the first day of the next month ensuing.

to be read. [1604]

HE' Psalter shall be read through

H

once every Month. And because that some Months be longer than some other be, it is thought good to make them even by this means.

To every Month shall be appointed (as concerning this purpose) just xxx days.

And because January and March have one day above the said number, and February, which is placed between them both, hath only xxviij days; February shall borrow of either of the Months (of January and March) one day; And so the Psalter which shall be read in February, must begin at the last day of January, and end the first day of March.

And whereas May, July, August, October, and December have xxxi days a piece; It is ordered that the same Psalms shall be read the last day of the said months which were read the day before, so that the Psalter may begin again the first day of the next Month ensuing.

Now to know what Psalms shall be read every day; Look in the Calendar, the number that is appointed for the Psalms, and then find the same number in this Table, and upon that number you shall see what Psalms shall be said at Morning and Evening Prayer. And whereas the 119th Psalm is divided into twenty-two portions, and is

1 Order of Psalms to be said, &c. [S. L.]

2 In Scot. Lit. 1637, the following are the Rules:The Psalter shall be read through once every Month, save February, and in that Month so far as the Psalms are appointed for xxviij or xxix days in the leap year.

And whereas many Months have xxxi days a piece, it is ordered that the Psalms shall be read the last day of the said Months which were read the day before, so that the Psalter may begin again the first day of the next Month ensuing.

And where the cxix Psalm is divided into xxij portions, and is over-long to be read